Delville Wood

by Ian Uys

  “It is interesting to recall that whenever we mingled with the French troops we were welcomed and offered red wine which they received with their rations. After becoming accustomed to the French trench lice and other ‘beasties’ we were glad to accept their wine. They were always intrigued with our kilts and admired ‘The Scotch’ whose reputation as gallant fighters was well-known to our allies. It was difficult to get them to understand how Scotsmen could possibly come from South Africa.

  “Most of our objectives the first day were reached in spite of unexpectedly fierce resistance in many parts of the line. British bayonets were used extensively as German supports arrived. On the second day of the advance our field artillery took up their new positions beyond the German lines sometimes within sight of German batteries.

  “The way in which these gunners drove their horses attached to limbers of ammunition and field guns within sight of the enemy was a sight never to be forgotten. The incredible speed shown in bringing their guns into action was greatly admired by front-line troops. Several horses were hit but remarkably few gunners were casualties during the time they were immediately in front of our line. They were indeed a brave lot of chaps.

  “For the first three days, Germans were steadily overrun and their artillery comparatively quiet because we had captured several hundred of them as well as thousands of prisoners.

  “July 5th, the 1st Regt and we Scottish took over the new front line near Montauban, the Scottish at the extreme right of the British mingling with the French. Approaching this line my great friend, Bill Fisher was hit in the stomach by a large piece of shrapnel. He was sent to England and remained in hospital for many months. Several other men were killed and more wounded.

  “The Germans were recovering from the shock of the original attack and bringing up numerous new divisions of men and artillery. In this manner the British command eased the pressure on the French at Verdun, one of the chief objectives of the attack.”

  *

  Hugh Boustead was shocked to hear that Lord Kitchener was drowned when HMS Hampshire was torpedoed in the North Sea on 5 June. “It is an astonishing thing but here among the South Africans and among all Kitchener’s Army it came as a devastating personal shock and a grave setback to the war. Whatever may have been written of Kitchener by politicians, the troops looked on him with nothing short of hero-worship. We could talk of little else for days, even in the midst of the battle.”

  *

  Private Gordon Forbes from Burgersdorp had joined up with his two brothers, Duncan and Haldane, leaving their father and sister to run the family farm. He was posted to the 2nd Battalion’s A Company, however was attached to the Trench Mortar Battery on 7 June.

  Chapter 3 — Bernafay Wood and Trones Wood

  The Battle of Delville Wood cannot be dealt with in isolation. The immediately preceding Battles of Bernafay Wood and Trones Wood occupied the second week of the Somme offensive, 7-13 July. The 2nd and 4th SAI were committed to battle there. Most of the men who survived would soon after find themselves in Delville Wood.

  The two woods adjoin one another and lie south of Delville Wood. They were commanded by German artillery positions at Longueval and Guillemont; in turn they protected the Longueval heights as fire could be brought to bear on the flanks of assaulting troops. On the night of 4 July the 27th Bde cleared Bernafay Wood. The French attacked Maltzhorn Farm during the days which followed whereas the British 30th Division attempted to take Trones Wood.

  On Saturday, 8 July the 2nd SAI’s HQ and A and C Coys occupied Bernafay, relieving the 27th Bde. The following day they were joined by D Coy. Due to the heavy artillery fire a small garrison was left in the wood and a bombing party sent to occupy Longueval Alley, a trench which linked Bernafay with the northern edge of Trones Wood.

  At 8 am that morning the 90th Bde and 17th Manchesters took Trones Wood. They found that capturing a wood was less costly than holding it. After a heavy bombardment they withdrew and the Germans re-took it.

  At dawn on Monday the 10th the Germans withdrew from Trones Wood for the same reason. The wood was then attacked by the 16th Manchesters and A Coy of the 4th SAI. During their advance in the wood from south to north, isolated pockets of Germans inflicted heavy casualties on them; Capt Russell of the 4th SAI being mortally wounded.

  The 2nd SAI had meanwhile established a small post in Longueval Alley to cover the northern part of Trones Wood. An officer and four men were wounded by German snipers. Due to the heavy losses caused by the constant shelling, the 2nd SAI were then relieved by B and D Coys of the 4th SAL

  *

  On 11 July Gen Erich von Falkenhayn, 53, the German GOC, halted his offensive at Verdun. The following day he visited Gen von Below on the Somme to discuss his disapproval of “premature withdrawals”, and to suggest that they could threaten the Allied flank along the line Hardecourt-Longueval. Von Below doubted the viability of such a counter-stroke without massive reinforcements.

  The newly-created First Army north of the Somme would form Gen Von Below’s command. The sector from Longueval to the Ancre would fall under a new corps to be formed by Gen Sixt von Armin, who would take over his new command on 14 July. The troops in the area then were the Buckhardt Division, 183rd Division and the 3rd Guards Division. The defensive line running eastwards from Longueval through Waterlot Farm and Guillemont was held by the 10th Bavarian Division.

  On the 11th the SA Scottish bombed along Longueval Alley. In Bernafay itself they were subjected to intense shell fire and suffered heavy casualties. Colonel Jones was killed by a shell splinter as he emerged from his dug-out. The following day most of the 4th SAI were relieved in Bernafay, leaving a small garrison holding Longueval Alley.

  During the day the 89th Bde was involved in intensive fighting in Trones Wood. The attack of the 55th Bde of the 18th Div on Trones Wood that night failed. Most of the SAI Brigade were at Talus Boise on the 13th, to act as a reserve to the 9th Division’s assault on Longueval the following day.

  The grim day-by-day accounts of the men in the various companies brings alive the horror of the week preceding Delville Wood; a week which cost South Africa over 500 casualties.

  *

  On 10 July General Lukin set about organising the disengagement.

  “In accordance with orders received on the night of 9/10th I sent a company of the 4th SAI to support the 90th Inf Bde in holding Trones Wood, and a platoon of the same battalion to support the garrison of the Bricqueterie. The company referred to took part in the fighting in the south end of Trones Wood on the night of the 9/10th and during the 10th, sustaining about 40 casualties. It was relieved on the night 10/11th, and the platoon which strengthened the garrison of the Bricqueterie was relieved on the afternoon of the 11th.

  “Headquarters and two companies of the 4th SAI, relieved that portion of the 2nd SAI in Bernafay Wood on the night of the 10/11th. On the same night the dispositions of the 3rd SAI and the remainder of the 4th SAI were altered to bring these units within the area which had been laid down for this brigade; the 30th Division taking over that portion of the line which the 4th SAI had held, viz: Bricqueterie Trench and Dublin Trench down to Dublin Redoubt.

  “The only portion of the line then held by this brigade was the eastern and south-eastern faces of Bernafay Wood and Longueval Avenue.”

  Brigade HQ was shelled and the mess blown in. The mess waiter was buried but hurriedly dug out.

  *

  Private Gordon Forbes’ diary of 11 July reads:

  “Moved from Maricourt to valley about a mile away. Built ourselves a sort of dug-out that was built up. Went over to see my friends in 2nd Regt. From all accounts they must have had a terrible time in Bernafay Wood — were sent in to hold the position which was under heavy shell fire. Harold Alger was killed and many more comrades; all our old mess of seven still safe.”

  The SA light trench mortar battery had been equipped with French mortars. Two new emplacements were set up at Glatz Redoubt, west of the Marico
urt-Montauban road on the 12th.

  Gordon Forbes heard of death during the day and almost experienced it. “Fairly easy day. Was orderly for Bailey and spent a lively time dodging coal boxes on my way to brigade HQ. Cook, our Wesleyan chaplain, killed today (11th) helping wounded from battle. Almost his last words were ‘I am glad to have died while helping our poor wounded boys along’.

  “Went over and had a chat with Charlie, which was rudely interrupted by a coalbox that dropped five yards behind our dug-out, and strange to say, and luckily for us, it was a dud, made a sort of bottomless pit in the ground. Got a letter from Duncan and one from mother.”

  Forbes attended a funeral on the 13th “On ammunition fatigue in morning and arrived home to hear the sad news that Frank (Knight) and two others out of the TMBs had been knocked out by a shell. Frank lived till evening and we buried him in the divisional cemetery at Maricourt on the immediate right hand of Col Jones of the Scottish. Capt Harris read the burial service.”

  *

  The depleted 28th Bde Machine-gun Company was commanded by Capt J Patterson. It was brought up to strength by drawing suitable men from the four South African battalions, who were hurriedly trained on the Vickers and Lewis guns. The brigade MG officer attached to the 28th Bde MG Coy was Capt R Deane.

  Robert Deane from Cedarmont, near Standerton, had led the SASC machine-gun section in SWA. On joining the brigade he was appointed as machine-gun officer and promoted to temporary major.

  *

  Private James John Simpson, 26, of Observatory, Cape Town, was a lithographic artist who had served for nine months in SWA with the CT Highlanders. He was 5 ft 7 ins tall and had a dark complexion. After joining the 4th SAI, A Coy, Simpson was transferred to the machine-gun company. Simpson graphically described the experience of a machine-gunner at Bernafay Wood.

  “We were to relieve the (2nd) Regiment in Bernafay Wood. We entered the wood at the south-west end, and all the time we were under heavy shell-fire. When we got right into the wood the bombardment became terrific, shells whistled through the trees, and burst with awful cracks all around. Men were falling fast, and everyone was calling for the stretcher-bearers.

  “To add to the confusion all the fellows were carrying extra loads of ammunition boxes, rolls of barb wire, tins of water and a hundred and one of other things. We in the gun section each had to carry two canvas buckets of Lewis gun magazines besides our rifle and equipment, and I can tell you every time we trekked the perspiration simply ran off me, and then came the shivers when we halted.

  “To get back, we struggled through the wood, being tripped up almost every step by the thick undergrowth, barb wire, and falls into shell-holes, or else our equipment would get entangled in the brambles. The boys were falling right and left. How long we remained in the wood I don’t know, but after some time the order came to take what cover we could in shell-holes.”

  *

  On the 12th the machine-gun crews were in the thick of the fighting. The company war diary was written up at the headquarters at Talus Boise.

  “Bailey remained in the wood (Bernafay). The relieved teams took over the positions in Glatz Redoubt and Bord Alley which had been evacuated by No 4 Sections. These trenches pretty quiet nowadays as the wood is drawing most of the fire.”

  On 13 July Captain Patterson found difficulty in extricating his machine-gunners for the coming battle. “The SA Brigade came into divisional reserve today occupying the old British front line. Our four guns could not be relieved as it was impossible to find the OC, 55th MG Coy, as he was busy assisting in an attack by that brigade on Trones Wood.

  “The 9th Division is to take part in an attack on the German second line tomorrow at 3.25 am, its chief objective being Longueval Village.”

  *

  James Simpson had no use for his machine-gun as they were not attacked, however the artillery bombardment smashed their positions.

  “The second day my gun was shifted up the communication trench, and what a time we had, for the enemy had the exact range of us, and started at one end of the trench and then came right down, then up again. Just after 5 o’clock the second evening things were looking terribly black. A coalbox landed in the trench opposite us.

  “We dug about a couple of feet into the bank and placed a few sandbags at right angles, and I reckon that these bags saved the corporal and myself, for it killed three on the other side of me and wounded others, and although the corporal and myself were just as near we both got off without a scratch.

  “My head appeared to expand twice its size, and my chest. Oh! The shock was awful, and had it not been for the rather funny sight of one of our fellows careering down the trench bringing a laugh to my lips I believe I should have had shell-shock like two others there. A fellow with shell-shock is just like a frightened child, trembles violently, weeps, and requires someone to take charge of him.

  “I set to and dug out two of the poor mangled fellows; the third did not require anything, he was beyond requiring aid; the other two died in a few minutes. After that I took down one of the shell-shocked fellows to the dressing-station, while the NCO went off to try and get us shifted.”

  James Simpson spent the night of the 12/13th carrying wounded men to a Cameron dressing-station, then slept until 2 pm. When he reported for duty he found that he had been reported as both wounded and dead. “Later that night we moved down to Carnoy among our guns, and tried to get a bit of sleep; but it was too cold, and after a few hours we were ordered to stand to, in case we were required.”

  *

  Staff-Sergeant Lionel Henry Walsh of the SAMC was from Cape Town. He was sent to assist Lieut Reid-Daly at Bernafay Wood. He continued to work among the wounded after the officer had left, dragging them to shelter, dressing their wounds and feeding them with iron rations which he took from the dead.

  He continued to do this on Tuesday and the whole of Wednesday, during which time the shelling was so heavy that no other bearers could approach the wood. He refused to leave until he had personally supervised the removal of all the wounded.

  Walsh appeared to bear a charmed life. He had an utter disregard for his own life and worked under conditions which precluded others from leaving cover. He showed no fear and his acts of bravery were many.

  *

  The 2nd SAI (A, C and D Coys) relieved two battalions of the 27th Bde (the 12th Royal Scots and 6th KOSB) in Bernafay Wood. They were heavily shelled during the next three days and incurred over 200 casualties, including Capt H E Clifford and Lieut C L H Mulcahy who died of wounds and Lieuts L Greene and B MacFarlane.

  Capt Herbert Edward Clifford had served in the South African War and been mentioned in despatches, then joined the Natal Police. In 1914 he served as a lieutenant in the Natal Horse during the Rebellion and thereafter joined the brigade as a captain and served in Egypt. He died on 10 July from wounds received at Bernafay.

  Lieut Mulcahy was the son of Capt Mulcahy, formerly of the KOSB. He had been commissioned in the 1st Natal Carbineers and had fought in the Rebellion and SWA.

  Lieut Brian Neill MacFarlane’s father was a retired colonel living in Pietermaritzburg. Lieut MacFarlane had taken over the bombing post in Longueval Alley. On the 9th he carried out a reconnaissance along the trench to a point 100 yards from Trones, where they came under heavy rifle fire. One man was killed whereas Lieut MacFarlane and three others were badly wounded.

  Although suffering from a badly fractured leg, he continued to control his party and ordered the men to retire to cover and leave the wounded where they lay. Later on he and the other wounded managed to crawl back some distance to where they were picked up and brought in. He was later to receive the MC.

  A stretcher-bearer, Pte H Stephens, was carrying Lieut Lovell Greene to a dressing-station when they were captured, however, he succeeded in escaping with the officer. He was later to be wounded in his leg at Delville Wood.

  *

  Private Eddie Fitz found the enemy shell fire hellish during the next
three days.

  “When we went into Bernafay Wood it was our first experience of really terrific artillery bombardment. We were in that wood for nearly 60 hours. During that time, we didn’t suffer any counterattack by Jerry. They pulled out and we went in to hold the wood. Trones was fairly close on the eastern side and there was terrific activity from there.

  “A chap named Fred Mitchell (L/Cpl) and I were the linesmen in this telegraph ‘show’. When we got there Fred Mitchell and I looked at the map as to where the companies were and discussed it with our signals sergeant. We decided to run lines to three different points, left, centre, and right. The right faced Trones Wood.

  “We ran out these lines and Fred and I decided to cross-connect them, so after we got them going we went across strapping them, because we used earth returns. We strapped them twice. By 12 o’clock that night the whole system was this — every damn line was cut! It was no use trying to maintain it on a basis of a ‘net’, so Fred and I spent our time, night and day, running new lines or going out and running along the line with your hand until you found the break, then trying to pick up the other bit and joining it.

  “We carried on doing that. Most of the time we were drenched with lachrymatory gas and mustard and there was plenty of high explosive. The velocity of a whizzbang was as high as that of a rifle bullet. Strictly speaking you should not hear them coming as their velocity was higher than sound in air, but the thud of the gun exploding produces a sound wave in the earth and you could actually ‘feel’ the battery fire. If I was in the field of fire, I dropped flat … and boy, they came in thick and fast!

  “This went on the whole period we were there. Our signal sergeant was wounded on the first day and was walked out by a runner. On the way out a shrapnel shell burst in the air above them. The signal sergeant got about six more ‘bullets’ (balls) in him and the runner was killed. That is the way it went on.”